When Jeff Walser took over as general manager at The Lights at Indio Golf Course, the wheels were already in motion to bring the city-owned 18-hole par-3 lighted course in north Indio a new and expanded clubhouse. Just a few months later, in the summer of 2024, the old clubhouse was torn down.
“It had been there, well, for 60 years. It had run its life,” Walser said of the old clubhouse. “We obviously kind of outgrew it with the boom in golf the last 10, 15 years, the Tiger effect, COVID, all those issues. It was just time for an upgrade here, and the city has been very good to work with.”
The new clubhouse opened this month – an official ribbon cutting will be June 4 – ending two years of working out of temporary buildings, construction and power delays. The course and its temporary parking lot were hidden behind construction of a new parking lot as well as a new Chick-fil-a and Dutch Bros restaurants. In addition, a nearby Auto Zone at the corner of Ave. 42 and Jackson Street is still being built, and Walser said there is still room for potentially a third restaurant on the site.
Walser admits the construction hurt The Lights for walk-up business during the day, with people thinking the course was closed. At night, with the lights shining on the course and driving range, people still came to the course. The facility is now ready with its entrances off of Ave. 42 open, and The Lights is ready to do more than offer golf.
“Obviously with the addition of this (pro shop) build and the restaurant phase, which will be open in a couple of weeks, it is going to be a really attractive place for people to come and enjoy,” Walser said.
Designed by architectural firm Shepphird Associates, the new clubhouse with its curved shape is actually two buildings. One is the pro shop, administrative offices and a post office, something that was part of the old clubhouse as well. The second building will be a fully functioning restaurant and kitchen area.
“It being a community location, we wanted to bring something where the community can come and hang out,” said Juan Martinez, director of the restaurant. “There is nothing in north Indio, so this has kind of been a long time coming. I’m glad to be able to offer something. The city is putting a lot of funds into arts and entertainment.”
The new restaurant will feature a 100-inch television on one wall as well as three other televisions over a bar, indoor and outdoor seating and even murals of Indio and of Bob Hope. It is a long way from the hot dogs and free popcorn which were famous in the old clubhouse.
In all, with the two buildings and outdoor areas, Walser estimates the clubhouse at 5,000 square feet. The new parking lot, which includes six EV charging stations, is now to the east of the building, with the old parking lot now the Chick-fil-a and its parking area.
The new clubhouse and its construction have forced some changes to the golf course itself. The ninth hole, which plays direction toward the clubhouse, has been shortened from 176 to 125 yards, with the new green well away from the large glass walls of the restaurant. The old ninth green still exists as a putting green near the first and 10th tees. A small cemented area near that putting green can be used for entertainment, Walser said.
The other change is to the 18th hole, formerly 156 yards with a tee tucked into the corner of the property. Parking lot construction forced the hole to be shortened to 78 yards with the tee to the right of the old line of the hole, but that again caused some balls to get too close to the clubhouse. A new tee, back against the fence near the new parking lot, leaves the hole at 61 yards, the shortest hole on the course.
The club’s two temporary trailers are gone, replaced now by a trailer for The First Tee of the Coachella Valley, which utilizes The Lights as an east-valley hub for its junior golf program.
While the facility has been upgraded, Walser said it is important to remember the golf course is still a municipal amenity for the city of Indio.
“Obviously it is a public golf course for the city and we expect a lot of new golfers and returning golfers and people who want to practice their games on the range,” Walser said.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: New clubhouse now open at The Lights at Indio Golf Course
Reporting by Larry Bohannan, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
